Monaro does Brands
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Discussion

BigNige

Original Poster:

2,584 posts

246 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
and warps a disc...sheesh

Anyway, it was a great day and I had lots of fun but, I've realised one thing...the Monaro isn't a quick car on the track tbh
It's a fun car and I'm not about to replace it but it ain't quick.

I think I need a Caterham

















Edited by BigNige on Monday 9th October 18:46

willisit

2,167 posts

253 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
Nice... one day I'll get mine on a track - but not in stock form. Too lardy and the brakes would cook.

I know plenty of peeps with stripped Astras and Mk2 Golfs that use them for track days, and keep the nice car at home - it's more about having fun, than what you drive methinks!

BigNige

Original Poster:

2,584 posts

246 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
We were out in the Imprezza late afternoon and fairly hooning around.
Went in to Druids with all tyres screeching and bugger me if a bloody Caterham 7 didn't come around the outside of us!

So unfair!

AM04ARO

3,646 posts

237 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
Those pesky Caterham's - did the same to me at Brands too. Frome what I remember there was a TWR XJS, a Ferrari 80's style and an M BMW that rained on my parade.

Lapped a VW R32 a few times and the old Boxster, Astra Coupe, etc which was quite nice.

Well worth taking on track as it does give you a feel for the road too.

BigNige

Original Poster:

2,584 posts

246 months

Monday 9th October 2006
quotequote all
AM04ARO said:
Those pesky Caterham's - did the same to me at Brands too. Frome what I remember there was a TWR XJS, a Ferrari 80's style and an M BMW that rained on my parade.

Lapped a VW R32 a few times and the old Boxster, Astra Coupe, etc which was quite nice.

Well worth taking on track as it does give you a feel for the road too.


That is very true.
The Monaro is a very forgiving car when on the edge and that edge is actually quite blurry.
What I found was that push until the tyres squeal, then push a bit more and the exits get a bit squirelly then push a bit more and the back starts to break away...that's when the limit is approaching.

I also found that it understeers on the track more than oversteer which is quite a good thing.

There was a professional photg there and he got some excellent shots - should be able to post in a day or so along with an in car vid (that makes me look like I'm driving at 20mph everywhere )

biglump

433 posts

271 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
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Big Nige, glad you enjoyed it and I have to agree - The stock motor ain't a track car - I'm doing the Indy circuit for a 2nd time on friday and I'm really hoping the brakes hold together...AP's required me thinks...bet you didn't see another there tho' did ya?

mackie1

8,168 posts

255 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
Mmm, mine seemed very slow at Vmax on sunday. Managed 153mph max which is about the same as all the Griffith 500s were managing. Still mega fun though! I had a ride in a Noble M12 GTO-3R - boy do they go round corners well!

PS. I've got VXR brakes on mine and they held up well with many 150-60mph applications throughout the day. I had a bit of brake or clutch (or both!) fluid spillage (stripped the paint on the engine cover - but i hate it anyway so it's coming off now!) but no noticable fade or nasty sounds (they are pretty noisy anyway). It would probably have been a different story if the car didn't have time to rest and cool down in between runs.






Edited by mackie1 on Tuesday 10th October 14:05

V8HSV

2,457 posts

274 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
I've ran my GTS at Bruntingthorpe a few times & 150 mph was about it on average, 155 about the best, this was when it was standard so power equal to the CV8 for comparison purposes

www.pistonheads.tv/video.asp?id=1052

VMAX vid link above

Edited by V8HSV on Wednesday 11th October 16:23

mackie1

8,168 posts

255 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
V8HSV said:
I've ran my GTS at Bruntingthorpe a few times & 150 mph was about it on average, 155 about the best, this was when it was standard so power equal to the CV8 for comparison purposes


Mine has the Wortec remap but it seemed to run out of puff at higher rpms so I think would benefit a lot from improved exhaust and induction. I think I'll have to pay Monkfish another visit before I go back.

The Kleeman tuned SL600 that was there managed 197mph! No doubt in perfect comfort too!

V8 EOL

2,782 posts

244 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
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Was there much badge snobbery? Most seem to have super dooper Porsches with mega hp and I was wondering how welcoming it was?

damoace

118 posts

254 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
I was there with Nige yesterday and did'nt really notice any "mine is better than yours" going on, there were a lot of *serious* race built cars and some corporate arrangements, but all in all the track attitude was good. I know BN was a little dissapointed that I did'nt take the V8, but its up on jacks at the moment so we made do with the Impratza! I think he warmed to it a little after we went for a fairly spirited run in it!
From observations, I suspect that BN is getting the best out of the car in it's current build (withstanding the fact that he has to use it as a daily driver) and he and it were going very well indeed.

Nige mate, dont look at Caterhams (although as track weapons they are among the best) try one of these:

www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/motoringpreviews/26641/westfield_xtr2.html


Am seriously considering spannering one of these up. (they combine my two motorbased loves, superlight race cars and bike engines)...

now thats a loverly daydream.....

Edited by damoace on Tuesday 10th October 17:22


Edited by damoace on Tuesday 10th October 17:25

BigNige

Original Poster:

2,584 posts

246 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
Now that is very pretty my friend


Have actually been looking at Skylines and they are amazingly well priced if you don't mind an R32 or 33.
Can easily get one for under £4k!

Did you see the flames coming out of that grey one yesterday? HUUUUGE!!!
When I filled up at lunch time he was there as well and we got chatting - his car was doing less mpg then the Monaro which I got down to 9.1 to the gallon (**chuffed** )
I think he said he was getting 7!

The Imprezza was great fun mate, big respect to the way you handle it.

Incidently, got the tyres checked out this AM and they're fine...may as well get the most from them as winter approaches.

Edited by BigNige on Tuesday 10th October 18:58

BigNige

Original Poster:

2,584 posts

246 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
A few laps of Brands in the car...the giggling you can hear is a mate.

Quality is a bit sketchy but I'll try & replace it with a better one in due course.


The vid doesn't really do justice to how quick Brands is or the elevation changes tbh...anyhoo, enough of my prattling.

[url]http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b94[/url]


BO55 VXR

4,373 posts

273 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
That looked like fun mate...I might just have to get my centre boxes fitted, get a skid lid and get out there...

Dan_S V8

578 posts

241 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
Bignige do you have headers? I think that would make a huge difference, the engine is so much more free revving after headers and would suit the track down to the ground.

VXR_Daz

1,830 posts

242 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
BO55 VXR said:
That looked like fun mate...I might just have to get my centre boxes fitted, get a skid lid and get out there...



Noooooo! Not the centre boxes! eek

BigNige

Original Poster:

2,584 posts

246 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
Dan_S V8 said:
Bignige do you have headers? I think that would make a huge difference, the engine is so much more free revving after headers and would suit the track down to the ground.


You'd never get past the noise regs with headers.

There was a Civic touring car thingy that wasn't that loud tbh but he had to go get a silencing box fitted during lunch after getting black flagged.

mose

814 posts

247 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
Ya got to do the whole track ya lucky bugga!!!

BO55 VXR

4,373 posts

273 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
VXR_Daz said:
BO55 VXR said:
That looked like fun mate...I might just have to get my centre boxes fitted, get a skid lid and get out there...



Noooooo! Not the centre boxes! eek


Only for the track day... back out as soon as possible

AM04ARO

3,646 posts

237 months

Tuesday 10th October 2006
quotequote all
BigNige said:
You'd never get past the noise regs with headers.



I had headers at Brands and while being the loudest there no complaints - also got the middle box's in.